Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino said Tuesday he’ll create a new ballot line called “Stop the Common Core” as he seeks to use unrest about the controversial academic standards in his bid to upset Democratic Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo.

Astorino said he’s tapping into a “grassroots movement which has taken hold across this state” that involves “teachers and parents of all stripes.” A Cuomo spokesman called it “pandering.”

Astorino, the Westchester County executive, acknowledged he’s looking to woo people who might not normally get involved or excited about statewide political races, and the Common Core issue highlights a “clear difference between Andrew Cuomo and me.”

“‘Stop the Common Core,’ as a third-party line, will allow parents to be part of this reform movement — either to cast a protest vote against Common Core or support me on this issue,” Astorino said, adding the ballot strategy isn’t just about winning. “It’s about making a major statement in this state that we believe it is on the wrong path in regards to education.”